US Fish and Wildlife

Regional conservation effort will benefit trumpter swans

Chelsea Biondolillo — Thu, 02 May 2013 23:00:01 +0000

Wildlife interest groups and agencies in Wyoming and Idaho are working to increase the populations of trumpeter swans in the region. Loss of habitat has limited numbers within the species. The Teton Regional Land Trust is working with the Wyoming Wetland Society, local offices of US Fish and Wildlife Services, and the Idaho Fish and Game departments to build a nesting colony in Teton valley.

New report seeks to help states protect sage grouse

Willow Belden — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:17:56 +0000

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a report that’s meant to help states figure out how to protect sage grouse and keep them off the endangered species list.

Bob Budd with the Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resource Trust helped put the report together. He says the document provides information about the key threats to sage grouse, but leaves it up to states to develop or revise their conservation plans.

Ranchers may receive assurances in exchange for sage-grouse conservation

Sara Hossaini — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:25:24 +0000

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has announced a new plan that would give farmers and ranchers certain legal protections, if they undertake sage-grouse conservation efforts.

Enviro groups plan to sue to protect boreal toads

Luke Hammons — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:24:13 +0000

Various ecological groups in the Rocky Mountain region have joined together to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to list the boreal toad as endangered.

Once populating much of the coniferous forests of the Western United States, the boreal toad’s numbers have plummeted in the last two decades. Currently, the amphibian is only found in 1% of its original breeding area in the Southern Rockies.

Wyoming wolves removed from Endangered Species List

Willow Belden — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:57:51 +0000

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing wolves from the Endangered Species List in Wyoming. The animals had almost died out before being added to the list in 1970s, but the population has since rebounded.

Today’s announcement means Wyoming – not the federal government – will manage wolf populations. The state will allow the animals to be shot on sight as predators in most places, and will require hunting licenses in a few areas. Wolf hunting season is set begin October first.

The governor’s office says Wyoming’s management plan will ensure that wolves don’t die out.

Report says how to avoid sage grouse listing

The Associated Press — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 00:02:17 +0000

Conservation groups are welcoming a federal report spelling out how sage grouse should be managed in 11 Western states to avoid new federal protections.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's draft report advises the states and federal land management agencies to act immediately to stop the loss of sage grouse habitat and populations.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announced in 2010 that sage grouse deserved protection under the Endangered Species Act. The agency pledged to make a final listing decision by late 2015.